Means for protecting backs of books



(No Model.)

GI A Q! MEANS FOR PROTECTING BACKS OF BOOKS.

- No. 560,323. Patented May 19, 1896.

WITNESSES IN VE N TOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. Q. NORTON, OF NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

MEANS FOR'PROTECTING BACKS OF BOOKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IPatent No. 560,323, dated May 19, 1896.

Application filed 38111561111381 28, 1895. Serial No. 563,956. (No model.)

the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to means for protecting the backs of books, and particularly books of large size, though it is applicable to any kind or class of books; and the object thereof is to provide means whereby books may be removed from shelves or other supports without danger of injury to the backs thereof.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a book provided with my improvement, and Fig. 2 a section on the line 2 2.

It is a well-known fact that in removing books from shelves, and especially books in which accounts are kept, it is customary to grasp the upper end of the back portion of the cover and pull the book off of the shelf, and in this operation, especially if it be frequently repeated, the cover is often torn or detached from the book; and the object of this invention is to provide means whereby this result will be avoided.

In the drawings forming part of this application, A represents the sides of the bookcover, and B the back thereof, said back forming a part of the cover, and being secured to the leaves or the body of the book in the usual manner, the book proper, or the leaves of which it is composed, being shown at O, and in the practice of my invention I cut out the upper ends of the leaves O adjacent to the back B in such manner as to form, when the book is closed, a cavity or recess D, the rear wall of which is substantially Vertical, as shown at (Z, and the front wall of which is preferably inclined, as shown at cl, the side walls being formed by the leaves of the book and being vertical, as will be readily under stood. The back wall d of the cavity or recess is arranged a short distance from the back B of the cover, said distance being such as to give proper strength thereto, and in opfrom the shelf, the finger or fingers are placed in the cavity or recess D and the book drawn outward, so that it can be grasped by the hand and removed from the shelf. In this operation, as will be apparent, it is not necessary to grasp the upper end or portion of the back B of the cover, and the danger of tearing or breaking said back loose from the leaves of the book is avoided.

My invention is not limited to the exact form and location of the cavity or recess D, nor is it limited in its application to any form or style of books; but it will, as will be understood, be of chief value when used in connection with books of the larger size.

Having fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A book in the leaves of which is formed at one end, a cavity or recess, said cavity or recess being located adjacent to the back of the book, substantially as shown and described.

2. A book in the leaves of which is formed at one end, a cavity or recess, said cavity or recess being located adjacent to the back of the book, the rear wall of said cavity or recess being substantially vertical as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A book provided with a cover, as A, and a back as B, said back constituting a part of said cover, and being secured to the leaves, said book being also provided in one end with a cavity or recess adjacent to said back, which is formed by cutting out the ends of the leaves, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 25th day of September, 1895.

CHARLES A. Q. NORTON.

Witnesses O. GERs'r, A. O. MoLouenLm.

eration, when it is desired to remove the book 

